Thailand Live Wednesday 29 Apr 2015

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Cabinet gives THB100mn to fund relief efforts for Nepal



BANGKOK, 29 April 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet has approved a budget of 100 million baht to be used in the rehabilitation program for victims of the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, who chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting on behalf of the Prime Minister, expressed thanks to every state official and public member who has contributed to relief efforts in Nepal in the wake of the deadly quake on April 25.

The deputy premier stated that, from the beginning, the government has offered an initial assistance fund worth 6 million baht to Nepal while food and medicine have also been delivered by the Royal Thai Air Force and 67 officials deployed to the quake-hit country.

As additional help, the Cabinet has made its latest resolution to set aside another 100 million baht that will go towards the rehabilitation program.

On this occasion, Gen Prawit commended the Thai people for their generosity after a televised fundraising event for quake victims on Monday night generated a total of 56 million baht worth of donation.


-- NNT 2015-04-29

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There Was No Crackdown in 2010, Says Abhisit Witness
By Khaosod English


Soldiers in downtown Bangkok on 14 May 2010.

BANGKOK — The military operation that dispersed Redshirt protesters in 2010 and left more than 90 people dead was not a "crackdown," says a former government official and key witness in an ongoing legal case over the incident.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821043-there-was-no-crackdown-in-2010-says-abhisit-witness/

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LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Madeleine McCann's parents win 500,000 euros ($549,000) in Portuguese libel case.

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - Army spokesman: 293 females rescued in northeastern Nigeria are not girls abducted from Chibok.

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EXCLUSIVE: Phuket couple spend terrifying 72 hours in mountains of Nepal
Tanyaluk Sakoot


A helicopter lands to take people out of Lukla. Photo by Ben Reymenants

PHUKET: -- The owner and founder of Rawai-based Blue Label Diving and his wife are currently struggling to get down out of the mountains of quake-shattered Nepal and back to Phuket after a harrowing 72 hours in the mountains near Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821044-phuket-couple-spend-terrifying-72-hours-in-mountains-of-nepal/

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PM denies role in Peace TV decision
ANAPAT DEECHUAY,
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday denied being involved with the broadcasting regulator's decision to revoke the licence for Peace TV, but said no one should be afraid if they have not done anything wrong.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821045-pm-prayut-denies-role-in-peace-tv-decision/

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NEW CHARTER
Politicians against draft 'because they fear scrutiny'
TANATPONG KONGSAI,
PIMNARA PRADUBWIT
THE NATION

National ethics assembly and new party-list system would be set up

BANGKOK: -- POLITICIANS have been criticising the draft charter because they fear scrutiny by the new independent bodies the document will set up, Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821046-thai-charter-politicians-against-draft-because-they-fear-scrutiny/

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PRAY FOR NEPAL
High-profile individuals help raise Nepal funds
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- Many high-profile individuals have joined the fund-raising efforts for Nepal in addition to those launched by many agencies, including the government's Dhamrongtham Centres nationwide.

The "Thai heart [support] to Nepal" campaign televised on Channel 5 raised Bt48 million on Monday night alone, PM's Office deputy spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

In response to National Reform Council president Thienchay Kirananda's call for contributions, all council members agreed to have Bt2,000 of their salary put towards the effort, while female NRC members proposed that clothes and basic necessities be donated for affected women too. The money will be collected by the NRC secretariat before it is passed on to the Thai Red Cross Society.

On Monday, Sansern said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha had contributed Bt100,000 towards the cause and called on Thais to make donations via the PM's Office Krungthai Bank savings account No 067-0-10330-6.

Package tours cancelled

Meanwhile, at least 11 travel companies have cancelled their trips to Nepal since Saturday's devastating earthquake, according to the Tourism Ministry, which is taking steps to aid those already there.

A ministry source said yesterday that more than a 1,000 people who already bought packages have been told to opt for alternative destinations such as China, Hong Kong and Singapore or get a refund if they don't want to travel.

Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said at least two groups of Thai package tourists are still in Nepal, adding that Mitr Maitree Tour's 34 travellers and Kasem TPM Group's 30 people are in a safe place.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/High-profile-individuals-help-raise-Nepal-funds-30258972.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-29

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BUDGET DEFICIT
Cabinet approves Bt2.72-trillion budget for fiscal 2016
Erich Parpart
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved the government's Bt2.72-trillion budget bill for fiscal 2016, including a deficit of Bt390 billion on expected revenue of around Bt2.33 trillion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821048-thai-cabinet-approves-bt272-trillion-budget-for-fiscal-2016/

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EXPORT
Commerce Ministry cuts 2015 export growth target to 1.2%
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The Commerce Ministry yesterday officially slashed this year's export-growth target from 4 per cent to 1.2 per cent, for a total value of US$230.30 billion (Bt7.5 trillion). That translates to a loss in export value of about $6 billion from the previous projection of $236.67 billion.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821049-thai-commerce-ministry-cuts-2015-export-growth-target-to-12-percent/

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Private input needed for 'last tax reform'
Achara Deboonme
The Nation


Kitipong

BANGKOK: -- Wooing business' opinions on how the legal landscape should be changed, Kitipong Urapeepatanapong, chairman of Baker & McKenzie's Bangkok office, reckons that this is the last chance that any major legal obstacles can be tackled.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821050-private-input-needed-for-last-tax-reform/

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Shortage of labour in Thailand likely to reach 300,000-600,000 in next 3-5 years

BANGKOK, 29 April 2015 (NNT) - Labour shortage in the Thai industrial sector looms large in the next 3-5 years with as many as 300,000-600,000 workers in need, Labour Minister Gen Surasak Karnjanarat revealed on Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821051-shortage-of-labour-in-thailand-likely-to-reach-300000-600000-in-next-3-5-years/

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STOPPAGE TIME
Foes become friends as politics TURNS ON A DIME

BANGKOK: -- The old adage that there are no real friends or permanent foes in politics applies to our post-coup, military-controlled situation as well. Criticise or scold Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha all you like, but he seems to have succeeded where democracy repeatedly failed. His charter draft (well, the pronoun is a bit judgmental because Prayut can always say he didn't write it) is nudging rival parties closer together, and that's a good sign in my book.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821052-thai-opinion-foes-become-friends-as-politics-turns-on-a-dime/

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Haad Chao Samran Sea turns green


[Photo credit: Thairath Online]

Phetchaburi:- The sea at the Haad Chao Samran beach turns green like being polluted by algae Monday, prompting officials to advise tourists not to swim.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821006-haad-chao-samran-sea-turns-green/

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'Check carefully before making Nepal donations'

Bangkok: The Thai Red Cross Society has warned potential donors to thoroughly check requests for help for quake-ravaged Nepal, suggesting some calls for assistance may have been parts of scams.

“We at the Thai Red Cross Society have been busy checking some bank account numbers said to be associated with us,” said Soi-sa-ang Pikulsod, a top Red Cross official in Thailand said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/820999-check-carefully-before-making-nepal-donations/

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Pattaya Police arrest Bangkok Drug Courier with 7.9 Million Baht’s worth of drugs



PATTAYA: -- A 40 year old female suspected drugs courier was arrested by Pattaya Police in Bangkok on Tuesday following information received from previously arrested drug dealers and users.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821055-pattaya-police-arrest-bangkok-drug-courier-with-79-million-baht-worth-of-drugs/

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Drunken Motorbike Theft suspect caught in Central Pattaya



PATTAYA: -- On Monday Morning a suspected motorbike thief, who was in a heavily intoxicated state, was arrested meters away from where he stole a motorbike parked in front of Central Pattaya Repair Shop.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821056-drunken-motorbike-theft-suspect-caught-in-central-pattaya/

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District Licensing Officers check late-opening Pattaya Bars



PATTAYA: -- Just before 5am on Tuesday a team of Banglamung District Licensing Officers were sent out to find bars which were open after their licensed hours of business and their checks led to issues with a number of bars in the South Pattaya area.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821057-district-licensing-officers-check-late-opening-pattaya-bars/

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Beautician in drink-related East Pattaya road crash



PATTAYA: -- A Beautician and her car ended up on their side and in a ditch next to a road in East Pattaya in the early hours of Tuesday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821058-beautician-in-drink-related-east-pattaya-road-crash/

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Black water on Phuket beach 'is not pollution'
Tanyaluk Sakoot


A technician collects a water sample from the canal.

PHUKET: -- The black water that has been flowing from a klong across Naiyang Beach for the past few days is not human pollution, officials say. It is rotted leaves.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821059-black-water-on-phuket-beach-is-not-pollution/

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Abhisit blasts CDC for creating new parliamentary dictatorship



BANGKOK: -- Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva blasted the Constitution Drafting Committee for crafting a draft constitution which would pave the way for the creation of new parliamentary dictatorship.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821060-abhisit-blasts-cdc-for-creating-new-parliamentary-dictatorship/

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Indonesia executes drug convicts, defying global anger

CILACAP, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesia early Wednesday executed seven foreign drug convicts including two Australians by firing squad but a Filipina was spared at the 11th hour, local reports said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821062-indonesia-executes-drug-convicts-defying-global-anger/

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First edition of govt tabloid paper being distributed
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The first issue of the government's tabloid newsletter was published yesterday. A total of 60,000 copies of the "Government Newsletter for the People" will be distributed across the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821063-first-edition-of-thai-govt-tabloid-paper-being-distributed/

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BURNING ISSUE
Fishery problems too complicated, chronic for Article 44
SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- USING Article 44 of the interim charter to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by Thai vessels would be a counterproductive move, as the European Union (EU) is also concerned about the legitimacy of law enforcement and how the process is managed.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821064-fishery-problems-too-complicated-chronic-for-article-44/

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Ministry told to draw up laws to prevent illegal fishing
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Fisheries Act 2015 has been approved by His Majesty the King with notice about the new law published in the Royal Gazette, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821066-thai-ministry-told-to-draw-up-laws-to-prevent-illegal-fishing/

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Reckless driving charge after nine die
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Nine migrant workers were killed and 17 others injured when a pickup truck carrying them lost control and crashed into a barrier fence at the U-turn under Tha Chin Bridge in Samut Sakhon's Muang district on Monday night.

The truck driver, a 35-year-old Myanmar man, was arrested for reckless driving causing others' deaths and injuries as well as damaging state property. Police suspected he was speeding and took a sudden turn, causing the overloaded truck to lose control and crash.

Samut Sakhon Transport official Charitja Klongkanying yesterday that it is possible for a migrant to get a driving licence if he has a passport and work permit. However, this licence can only be for personal use, not public transport, she added, referring to the truck driver's claims.

Charitja said her office would work with other agencies to get tougher on pickup trucks illegally carrying persons and urged companies to register proper licences for worker-transport vehicles.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Reckless-driving-charge-after-nine-die-30258969.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-29

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292 people claim to have lost Bt110m in UFUN: police
ANGSUMA SRIDOKKHAM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A TOTAL of 292 people have come forward to file police complaints, saying they suffered losses worth Bt110 million from UFUN Store's alleged pyramid scheme, assistant national police chief Pol Lt-General Suwira Songmeta said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821067-292-people-claim-to-have-lost-bt110m-in-ufun-thai-police/

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Former Abbot Accused of Sexually Molesting 7 Novices

Afraid and depressed young boy - Stock Image

A warrant is being sought for the former abbot of the Wat Hua Chang temple who’s been accused of sexually molesting 7 novices. Phra Khru Sutthawaraporn, who is also known as Phra Charan, was summoned by police several times, but failed to show up. The 49-year-old ex-abbot is facing arrest for sexual molestation claims.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821065-former-abbot-accused-of-sexually-molesting-7-novices/

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Cambodians Jailed for Illegal Logging Deported from Thailand

Dozens of Cambodians were deported from Thailand this weekend. In total, 54 people were deported after being arrested for illegal logging in the country. The deportation is an attempt to lower the strife seen between soldiers in Thailand and the loggers. Oftentimes, the strife is deadly.

Thailand has seen a surge in Cambodian deportation in April, with over 80 people being deported.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821061-cambodians-jailed-for-illegal-logging-deported-from-thailand/

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'Louie Louie' singer Jack Ely dies in Oregon at 71
STEVEN DUBOIS, Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jack Ely, the singer known for "Louie Louie," the low-budget recording that became one the most famous songs of the 20th century, died at his home in Redmond, Oregon, after a long battle with an illness. He was 71.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821073-louie-louie-singer-jack-ely-dies-in-oregon-at-71/

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Nigerian army rescues 300, none are kidnapped schoolgirls
MICHELLE FAUL, Associated Press
HARUNA UMAR, Associated Press

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian troops rescued nearly 300 girls and women during an offensive Tuesday against Boko Haram militants in the northeastern Sambisa Forest, the military said, but they did not include any of the schoolgirls kidnapped a year ago.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/821075-nigerian-army-rescues-300-none-are-kidnapped-schoolgirls/